Month: September 2014

Arthur was born in Birkenhead and was the youngest of four children born to James (1843-1930) and Elizabeth Thompson (neé Burgess 1841-1916). Arthur’s older siblings were May Burgess Thompson (1867-1955); Annie Maud (1871-?); and James Philip (1874-?). James was a surveyor for HM Customs Service and after his marriage to Elizabeth the family obviously moved around for his work, as they lived in a different county each census year. James was the son of James (1808-1869) and Eliza Thompson (neé Bratt 1809-1877). The Thompson family originated in Macclesfield, Cheshire, where they had been silk weavers for many generations. Elizabeth Burgess was the daughter of Joseph (born about 1811) and Rachel Burgess (nee Royle born 1812). Both the Burgess and Royle families were also silk weavers from Macclesfield, which was at one stage the world’s largest producer of finished silk. Continue reading “Arthur Thompson”→